South Regions Minority Business Council (SRMBC) will celebrate 20 years of supporting minority-owned enterprises during Business Connections '03, a two-day conference in downtown Birmingham that will bring entrepreneurs and major corporations together to network, sharpen their business skills and build prosperous relationships.

Janice Bryant Howroyd, president and CEO of California-based ACT 1 Personnel Services, one of the largest minority-owned businesses in Los Angeles, and Les Brown, internationally known speaker, author and entrepreneur, are among the presenters at Business Connections '03, which takes place June 2 and 3 at the Sheraton Civic Center Hotel.

This year, entrepreneurs and business owners who attend Business Connections '03 can sign up to participate in one-on-one interviews with purchasing agents and procurement specialists from major corporations. The interviews will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Business Connections '03 also features valuable workshops that will provide training by the experts in a variety of issues that are important to minority-owned enterprises.

The workshops will include sessions on raising capital, basic legal strategies, strategic communications and marketing. A special session, on corporate diversity training, will be led by well-known training consultant and minority entrepreneur Sheila Jordan, CEO of Atlanta-based 3D Performance, Inc.

In addition, Business Connections '03 will be the site of the 2003 Business Opportunity Expo, an exciting trade show where minority-owned businesses will showcase their products and services.

Business Connections '03 will also provide multiple opportunities for entrepreneurs and corporate representatives to network, including a charity golf tournament at Tuscaloosa's prestigious Capstone Club, the opening night "Magic City" Reception, and the closing night "Stars Fell on Alabama" Reception.

There's still time to register for Business Connections '03. For more information about the event and related activities, call SRMBC's Birmingham headquarters at (205) 957-1882. You can also find more information about SRMBC and its services by clicking on www.srmbc.org .

Established in 1983, SRMBC is a non-profit, privately funded organization that promotes economic development opportunities for minority-owned businesses. SRMBC is one of 43 regional purchasing councils affiliated with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), one of the country's leading business membership organizations with more than 3,500 corporate members nationwide. SRMBC and NMSDC work together to help develop and expand minority business purchasing programs.

SOURCE: South Regions Minority Business Council